Zechariah 1:21

19 And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.

20 And the LORD shewed me four carpenters.

Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
“What are these coming to do?” I asked. And He replied, “These are the horns that scattered Judah so that no one could raise his head; but the craftsmen have come to terrify them and throw down these horns of the nations that have lifted up their horns against the land of Judah to scatter it.”
KJV
Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.
WEB
Then I asked, “What are these coming to do?” He said, “These are the horns which scattered Judah, so that no man lifted up his head; but these have come to terrify them, to cast down the horns of the nations that lifted up their horn against the land of Judah to scatter it.”
ASV
Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns which scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head; but these are come to terrify them, to cast down the horns of the nations, which lifted up their horn against the land of Judah to scatter it.
DARBY
And I said, What come these to do? And he spoke, saying, Those are the horns which scattered Judah, so that no man lifted up his head; but these are come to affright them, to cast out the horns of the nations, which lifted up the horn against the land of Judah to scatter it.
BLB
And I said, “What [are] these coming to do?” And He answered, saying, “These [are] the horns that scattered Judah so that not a person could lift up his head; and these are coming to make them tremble, to cast down the horns of the nations [who] have lifted up the horn against the land of Judah to scatter it.”
ÅB
Da spurte jeg: Hva kommer disse her for? Han svarte: Hornene har adspredt Juda, slik at ingen vågde å løfte sitt hode, og nå er disse kommet for å forferde dem og slå av hornene på de hedningefolk som har løftet horn mot Juda land for å adsprede det.
OTB
Jeg spurte: "Hva kommer disse for å gjøre?" Og han sa: "Dette er hornene som har spredt Juda så ingen løfter hodet; men håndverkerne har kommet for å skremme dem, for å kaste ned hornene til de nasjonene som har løftet opp sine horn mot Judas land for å spre det."
B1930
Da spurte jeg: Hvad kommer disse her for? Han svarte: Hornene har adspredt Juda, således at ingen vågde å løfte sitt hode, og nu er disse kommet for å forferde dem og slå av hornene på de hedningefolk som har løftet horn mot Juda land for å adsprede det.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Psalms 75:10

    All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 75:4–5

    I said unto the fools, Deal not foolishly: and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn:

    Read in context
  • Lamentations 2:17

    The LORD hath done that which he had devised; he hath fulfilled his word that he had commanded in the days of old: he hath thrown down, and hath not pitied: and he hath caused thine enemy to rejoice over thee, he hath set up the horn of thine adversaries.

    Read in context
  • Zechariah 1:19

    And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.

    Read in context
  • Daniel 12:7

    And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.

    Read in context